The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-21
READY TO ACT PROMPTLY
Mr.. Fletcher Proposes to Pipe Gas Into
Indianapolis by January 1.
His Plans Will Not Be Executed. However. I'm
less the Council at Once Modifies the
Present Gas Ordinance.

apolis company" said q gentleman yesterday,
''that now makes a definite proposition. 1t is
in position to carry out whatever it proposes,
and am in favor OF anything reasonable that
will allow the company to carry out its inten-
tions. We have been kept out Of gas to the det-
riment Of the city's interests by theorists who
looked solely at the price of the article, without
taxing into consideration the investments and
risks required in bringing it to
us. This delay has been oetriment
to Indian apolis. because it has driven manufact-
nrsrs and capital elsewhere. II it was not vio-
;ating the confidence that belongs to all business
correspondence. could show letter after letter
OF inquiry in regard TO the situation here and
TO the time when gas would be piped to the city.
The requests of the writers like that of the
Pittsburg gentleman who wrote me to let him
know at once by telegraph when the Council
aad acted on the Indianapolis company's propo-
sitiou. The interest in the question is not con-
fined to us, but it extends to every place where
there manufacturers money and business
men ready 20 come to the city to get the ad-
vantage of cheap fuel Further delay means
further injury. and the quicker the problem is
solved the better"
In regard to the Indian polis company's pur-
poses there have been wanting official statements
except in general way as to what was contem-
plated by it Much depended upon the Pittsburg
negotiations of Allen M. Fletcher That gentle
man said TO a Journal reporter last night that
bis company now in a position to state
definitely what it could do. "We have never
been ready until to-day" he continued ito tell to
a certainty how far could 20 in giving the
people an assurance of sufficient supply of gas.
But even now the conditions such. il we
hope TO give the city gas, as to demand prompt
action. We want to 60 to work
at once NV visit to Pittsburg
to arrange for pipe, business that was consum-
mated only with great difficulty in securing an
option that will expire next Monday The OPP
ton relates pipe. and the construction of a
twelve inch pipe line. not less than twenty miles
long. from point at or Noblesville to this
. city. It also gives the certainty of securing
territory additional to that which the company
already has in that district The option, in
fact covers everything pertaining to a comple-
ton of the work by the LIST OF January. The
work must begin at once or it will be physical
impossi bility to perform IL within the time pre-
ecribed. The only conditions that enter into
this plan are those the company will present in
its proposition to the Council There will be
certain notifications OF the natural gas ordi-
nance, including advance of the schedule
rates, except as to those relating to manufactu-
rers. No change will be asked for in regard to
them and on the rates for private CONSUMPTION
the increase requested VIII not be higher than
% per cent less than wnat are known as the
Standard Oil prices. The other amendments or
notifications will relate to a removal of the tax
per foot the mains. to meters and to some
protection by limiting the number of mains
which are to be laid IN any one street for rea-
sonable period of time-sav five years-until 1t
is definitely determined whether the supply Of
gas is to be permanent
"Tne question of permanency no doubt is the
mportans factor in your asking for an advance
on the present ordinance ratesP
''Of course, it is considered. but it is not the
only question Of risk that attaches itself to the
Gall has Hnnr fAofn rod hrs
relative to what company could realize on its
investments at certain prices TO be paid by con-
sumers. This has taken the form OF calculations
solely the of pipe line. It is
sumed that il several hundred thousand dollars
are expended in laying pine, the costs and risks
end there as all that is left to be done is turn
the gas which costs nothing, into the mains
Another error is made in assuming that II Pitts
burg and other cities pay certain scale of
prices, it 10 unjust to require Indianapolis
to pay higher rate for gas. ad-
NIT the prices somewhat higher
than the Pittsbure rates. and also concede that
TO certain extent the conditions for pnng here
are more favorable than in that city. But there
is a very important factor which must not be
lost sight of. and how Ear that will affect the
piping of gas in this locality is unknown and can
be ascertaned only by experience. lt must be
borne in mind that in Indiana where the condi-
pipeline of the length proposed has
been established This untried and unknown
factor lies in the difference of pressure and in
the specific gravity Of gas s.,,. Pit, sSi.S
have from 600 to 700 pounds pressure
to the square inch. Here it is $50 pounds at the
highest. The Pittshurg gas is rare, and ours is
heavy that il differs from that of any known
field Hence. to its flow through twenty
miles OF main before il reaches the city we have
nothing upon which to base accurate estimates.
With the higher the wells and the
lighter specific gravity OF the gas the Same in
vestment, mileage and capacity of pipe. with all
other things equal in the Pittsburg district will
yield twice the quantity of gas that can be OBJ
tanned from the Noblesville region"
How far does the eapacity of the well enter
into this considerationF
ut is common practice for everyone to make
bis estimates of cost and profits the certainty
of well Welding it's full capacity. The fact
is directly the opposite. 1t would be
physical impossibility TO turn at once into
twelveinch main the entire daiiy yield OF any
well. series of wells. If peoplc would
stop to think they would realize this. Hence at
the point of consumption all the gas cannot be |
had at once. as in forcing it through the mains
two-thirds of the pressure only Is used One
third must be used at the wells to give good re-
suits. The law of friction governing artificial |
gas allows loss of seven pounds to the mile.
ASSUMING il to be the same to natural gas. |
the flow through the mains started |
with pressure OF swo'thras the
the square inch will through twenty p miles of
mains come to the point of consumption under |
pressure of little less than hundred pounds.
There has been lost by friction 140 pounds.
therefore gas comes the city third in
volume with materially reduced pressure.
How far this law is applicable in the present
case 10 anu ~ NC
except by actual working. The whole question
through this becomes problematical and the risk
10 greater than has ever been undertaken. 1t
is trying to reach the result attained
elsewhere under wholly different circumstances.
AS a fact, through the difference in pressure,
specific gravity and loss bv friction, if we have
yield at the wells of 100. 200. 0G0 feet daily We
cannot expect to bring tn the point OF consnmp-
tion more than %. 600 feet. while in Pitts
burg, as said before the same investment and
mileage would produce double the result"
What assurance will the company offer as to
the fulhllment of its purposes in the time pre-
Bcribed7T
San ordinance is being prepared covering the
Amendments have named. and IL IL is passed
the company will give bond in any reasonable
sum TO complete the line and deliver gas inside
the corporate limits of the city by the 1st OF
january next In of failure. the company
Is willing to Ray forfeit Of $50 for every days